Search the list: Parent incomes for every private school in the nation
Ever wanted to see how much families earn at the state’s top private schools? Here’s a full list of the average income of families at every elite school in Queensland. Search now.
The richest Queensland school parents send their girls to Brisbane Girls’ Grammar School, which has a median family income of $365,000 a year, exclusive data shows.
Founded in 1875, the school’s families earn nearly four times the median Australian household wage, according to federal government figures obtained by News Corp.
The $30,000 annual school fees for Brisbane Girls Grammar are a fraction of parents’ median earnings.
Despite families’ high earnings, the school receives around $9.5m a year in state and federal school funding.
BGGS’ brother school, Brisbane Boys Grammar, has the state’s second highest earning parents with a median income of $330,000 a year.
Anglican Church Grammar School ($325,000), St Margaret’s Anglican School ($315,000), St Joseph’s School Bardon ($305,000), St Joseph’s College ($305,000) and Brisbane Boys College ($300,000) all have median family earnings over $300,000, placing them over three times the national average.
The family income data is used to calculate the $18b in school funding given to private schools by the federal government each year.
The 2024 figures show the annual net median income of all private school parents in the country is $406m dollars.
However, there is a wide gap between those on the top of the list and those in the bottom half.
Parents at the top 20 schools have a combined annual median income of $8.4m.
Parents whose children attend the bottom 20 on the list of 2621 schools have a combined annual median income of $551,000, proving that private schools are not just for the wealthy.
The average median family income from the schools on the list is $159,496, which is well above the ABS household median income of $92,040.
In the national top 20, there are 17 NSW schools, one from Victoria and two from Western Australia.
A private girls’ school occupying a prime historic campus in the centre of Sydney has the richest families in the nation, the data shows.
SCEGGS Darlinghurst has parents with a median family income of $505,000 a year.
The prestigious school, which charges fees of almost $50,000 a year for year 12, is the only one in Australia with parents earning a median income of more than half a million dollars.
It receives $2.7m in federal funding a year.
The list also includes schools with parents on more achievable incomes.
Andrew Peach, principal of West Moreton Anglican College, which has a large catchment in Ipswich and Brisbane’s west, said his school “has a strong focus on the individual excellence of students”.
“Some families are doing very well but others are struggling a bit more,” he said.
“Families tell us they appreciate the all-inclusive fees which makes it easier to budget.
In a recent school survey parents told us they highly rated our quality teaching, student wellbeing and quality education at a reasonable expense,” Mr Peach said.
The school’s median family income is $185,000.
Elizabeth Anderson, whose daughter Halle is in year 12 this year and son finished in 2023, said her family chose West Moreton “because of the range of opportunities provided for our children”.
“We’ve found great value. Everything is covered at the school – the music, the dance, the sport, all the excursions and camps and tutorials for extra academic support – it’s all provided.
“We’re really proud of the young adults they’ve grown into, with the partnership between West MAC and our family really important to us,” she said.
Allan Blagaich, executive director of the Queensland Catholic Education Commission, said the state’s “313 Catholic schools educate more than 164,000 students, reflecting the full range of social, economic and cultural backgrounds across the state”.
“Our schools come in many shapes and sizes, from small rural schools to large metropolitan colleges, from boarding schools to flexi-schools for disengaged students. Our aim is to make a Catholic education available to all families who choose it.”
“Many families make significant personal sacrifices to contribute to their children’s education, and our system is stronger when those choices are respected, and all sectors are supported to advance the learning and wellbeing of young people. Fair government funding for all schools is essential to keep education affordable and accessible, and to provide all families with choice,” he said.
Independent Schools Australia CEO Graham Catt said most independent school families are “ordinary hardworking Australians, 60% are from low and middle-income households, often working two jobs, and - especially as cost of living pressures continue - are making real sacrifices so their children can attend the school that’s right for them.”
“The stereotype that all independent school parents are wealthy is simply wrong and, for parents, upsetting and offensive,” he said.
Dr Daniel Pampuch, CEO, Christian Schools Australia, said many Christian school parents are low- to middle income earners.
“They are regular mum and dads wanting to provide the best opportunities they can for their kids. As the cost of living keeps climbing, making ends meet isn’t easy,” he said.
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Originally published as Search the list: Parent incomes for every private school in the nation
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